Virtual testing of realistic aerospace composite structures

• Published in: Journal of materials science Vol. 43; no. 20; pp. 6586 - 6592
• Main Authors: Davies, G. A. O., Ankersen, J.
• Format: Journal Article Conference Proceeding
• Language: English
• Published: New York Springer US 01.10.2008; Springer; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Aircraft design; Application fields; Applied sciences; Characterization and Evaluation of Materials; Chemistry and Materials Science; Classical Mechanics; Composite structures; Computer simulation; Crystallography and Scattering Methods; Exact sciences and technology; Failure mechanisms; Feasibility; Materials Science; Polymer industry, paints, wood; Polymer Sciences; Solid Mechanics; Stretching the Endurance Boundary of Composite Materials: Pushing the Performance Limit of Composite Structures; Technology of polymers; Energy Release Rate; Local Stress Concentration; Crack Front; Strain Energy Release; Interface Element; Laminate; Aeronautics; Fiber reinforced material; Theoretical study; Mechanical properties; Polymer; Tensile property; Modeling; Composite material; Finite element method; Piece design; Computer aided engineering; Application; Fracture mode
• ISSN: 0022-2461; 1573-4803
• DOI: 10.1007/s10853-008-2695-x

The feasibility of using simulation of component tests to failure is examined from the view of using this as a design tool to reduce time and costs for future aircraft designs. All aspects are considered, that is modelling correctly the physics of failure mechanisms, having an acceptable CPU time, and ease of interfacing with existing CAE systems for generating models and processing the results. By looking at many benchmarks (including an industrial component) with experimental validation, it is concluded that simulation is now a feasible design tool and that many more searching examples will lend credibility to this strategy for both manufacturers and certification authorities.